Chinese infrastructure projects facilitate integration in Latin America

HAVANA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The first train entirely made up of Chinese-made carriages started operating last week between Havana and Santiago de Cuba, the island country's second largest city.

"Thank you, China," the passengers, who were on the maiden voyage of the new railroad cars that Cuba has received for the first time in 44 years, told Xinhua.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the idea of forging a community with a shared future between China and Latin America. Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has endeavored to improve living conditions in Cuba and other Latin American countries.

Old and worn-out infrastructure have been one of the constraining factors that hinder the development of many Latin American countries.

With China's help, Jamaica has built its first modern express way, reducing travel time from the north coast to the south from 2 hours to 45 minutes.

China has also provided a range of equipment and expertise to help Argentina renovate its railway lines, necessary for reducing logistic costs of transporting goods in its 18 provinces.

With closer China-Latin America ties, residents there do not need to worry about their access to electricity or drinking water.

With the aid of Chinese enterprises, the water supply program known as Sistema Produtor Sao Lourenco has tackled chronic water shortages for over 20 million people in Brazil. And in Argentina's southeast Patagonia's Chubut province, Chinese companies are harnessing the power of the region's buffeting winds to generate energy at the Loma Blanca I, II, III and VI wind farms.

Data shows that over 2,000 Chinese companies have been investing or doing business in Latin America, creating 1.8 million jobs for the local community. Since 2000, the trade volume between China and Latin America has experienced a roughly 20-fold increase.

Latin America is the natural extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. China has reiterated its willingness to enhance cooperation with Latin America, synergize the development strategies of individual countries under the BRI, and jointly forge a community with a shared future between China and Latin America.